How to archive mms/sms specific group & individual contacts on the phone?

[Andy Burnelli]

How can I best archive mms/sms group and individual contacts on the phone?
a. I'm exchanging my free Samsung for a new one due to warranty issues.
b. I've backed up the APKs and the Nova Launcher Homescreen organization.
c. I'm writing a Windows shell script to move the APKs into their folders.

But since I don't have a contacts database, nor do I have a Google account
set up on the phone (both are for privacy reasons), I have PulseSMS set up
independently with its own contacts and its own group message conversations.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.klinker.messenger>

Note that PulseSMS _can_ backup and restore contacts, but you must set up an
account on the Internet in order to do that, which isn't what I want to do.
<https://home.pulsesms.app/overview/>

I don't need to archive the texts and MMS since I don't care about the texts
and the MMS content is automatically backed up into a Pulse specific folder.

But what I need is a good way to create an SMS-specific contacts vcf file
(which would contain the group contacts in addition to individuals).
<https://duckduckgo.com/?q=android+sms%2Fmms+app+archive+contacts>

Luckily Android switches between SMS/MMS apps easily so the question only is
which free SMS/MMS app does the best job of archiving its group and
individual contacts on the phone (it's ok if it also archives the messages).
<https://techwiser.com/backup-sms-and-call-logs-android/amp/>
--
I realize most people archive to the Internet so it's OK if you don't know
the answer to the question. I'll figure it out - but if you've already done
it, then you can give me a head start on a solution that works outside the
Internet (and outside my empty contacts sqlite database on the phone).

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:58:09 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> Luckily Android switches between SMS/MMS apps easily so the question only is
> which free SMS/MMS app does the best job of archiving its group and
> individual contacts on the phone (it's ok if it also archives the messages).
> <https://techwiser.com/backup-sms-and-call-logs-android/amp/>

Moving forward, that article lists 5 "best" ways to backup SMS/MMS messages.
1. *SMS Backup+* by Jan Berkel (in-app purchases)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync>
Nice app, but it requires GMail.
2. *Super Backup & Restore* by MobileIdea Studio (Contains ads & In-app purchases)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts>
Nice app, can save Apps, SMS, Contacts, Call Logs, Calendars, and Bookmarks.
Saves to GMail and/or the expandable sdcard storage on the phone.
3. *Helium* (com.koushikdutta.backup)
The link was dead but Helium has ads but it does backup to the PC lots of stuff.
4. *Backup & Reset (MiUi)* (link doesn't exist)
5. *SMS Backup & Restore* by SyncTech Pty Ltd (Contains ads)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore>
Nice app, it can back up to the phone.
The article says there are no ads but the current version says it has ads.

None of those looked all that great even as I'm sure they all work just fine.
I'll run a search on the Aurora store and a few more searches on the net first.

As always, I'll solve this, but I ask here first in case someone is ahead of me.

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 01:29:46 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> None of those looked all that great even as I'm sure they all work just fine.
> I'll run a search on the Aurora store and a few more searches on the net first.

As expected, an Aurora search found lots of free gsf free ad free SMS backup apps,
where I'll just list some of the Aurora Google Play search results below as I begin
to consider which to test for my non-Internet privacy based SMS/MMS group backups.

*Simple SMS Messenger*, by Simple Mobile Tools (gsf free, free, ad free)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.smsmessenger>

*Alpha Backup*, by Buggysofts (gsf free, free, ad free)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ruet_cse_1503050.ragib.appbackup.iap>

*Phone Backup*, by JR Beetroots (gsf free, free, ad free)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jrbeetroots.phonebackup>

*SMS Backup Safe*, by DevelRox (gsf free, free, ad free)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.develrox.smsbackup>

*SMS Backup & SMS Export to Excel*, by Alexander Murray (gsf free, free, ad free)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magic.smsrecovery>

I'll test some of these out after reading up on which work completely
outside the Internet (they need to save the data to the sd card).
--
As always, I'll solve this privacy problem but I am simply posting here
hoping to find someone who is already ahead of me, or, if not,
then I can get you up to speed so that you can catch up.

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 01:49:01 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> *Simple SMS Messenger*, by Simple Mobile Tools (gsf free, free, ad free)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.smsmessenger>

I had already installed this app when I tested all known free gsf free
ad free SMS/MMS apps years ago (so it was in my APK archive of thousands).

Setting my default SMS/MMS app to Simple Mobile Tools' SMS Messenger,
it wasn't clear how to archive all the groups as contacts so I moved
on to the next app.

> *Alpha Backup*, by Buggysofts (gsf free, free, ad free)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ruet_cse_1503050.ragib.appbackup.iap>

Interestingly, the help that pops up says this app can backup the new crappy
(very much Apple-like customer unfriendly) piece-of-shit Google AAB format
to a proprietary SAPK format which only this Buggysofts app can use
(but which can be saved to a ZIP format for other apps to use, apparently).

I'm not completely sure but this app may be able to back up not only the APK
(or the piece-of-shit Google AAB format) but also the app's external data
(e.g., map files for a navigation app), but I didn't test that capability.

The types of data this Buggysofts Alpha Backup app can back up & restore are:
APKs
External Data
Complete Data
System Settings
Contacts
Messages
Call Logs

Alpha Backup easily accessed my messages and groups without needing to
be set as the default SMS/MMS app and it selected all messages with
a single checkbox and then created a single ZIP file of all messages.

Likewise with my call log, where Alpha Backup created a single zip
file archive of my thousands of calls since I've had the phone.

I'm sure it would have backed up my contacts to a vcf file just as
easily had I had any contacts in the sqlite contacts db to back up.

To make sure, I created a bogus contacts file and it did back that
bogus contacts file to a VCF file (not a ZIP file) which is good.

The default location on the phone for those Alpha Backup files was
/storage/emulated/0/AppBackup/

When connected to my PC, in the "AppBackup" directory were folders
apk, bundle, call_log, contacts, ext_bundle, messages & system_settings

If this app works to import those exported databases, then
this app might be a keeper as it was super simple to use.
--
What's interesting is that Alpha Backup apparently backs up the
crappy piece-of-shit Google AAB files and Android settings, although
I didn't test those features (and they may not work in the free
version anyway).

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 02:22:43 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> *Phone Backup*, by JR Beetroots (gsf free, free, ad free)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jrbeetroots.phonebackup>

Moving on to test *Phone Backup*, by JR Beetroots, it too had a
super simple setup allowing backup of all call logs, messages,
contacts, and settings, either individually or en masse.

Unlike the free version of Alpha Backup, apparently this free version of
Phone Backup allows you to set the archive folder, which defaults to
/storage/emulated/0/JR Beetroots/Phone Backup/{Call Logs, Contact, SMS}

Phone Backup had a setting to automatically back up everything
and even settings to automatically back up each type of data
every 3 days, every 15 days, or every 30 days.

Phone Backup saved call logs to an ".llac" file format on the phone.
Phone Backup saved messages to an ".sms" file format on the phone.
Phone Backup saved contacts to a ".vcf" file format on the phone.

I copied these over to my PC for use on the new phone if needed.
./Phone Backup/{Call Logs, Contact, SMS}

To compare Phone Backup with Alpha Backup, the key difference for
the types of files I care about are simply the file formats archived.

[Andy Burnelli]

> *SMS Backup Safe*, by DevelRox (gsf free, free, ad free)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.develrox.smsbackup>

Moving on to test *SMS Backup Safe* by DevelRox, the GUI starts with
allowing you to "plan your first backup" by scheduling the day of the
week and the time of the day to run that scheduled backup.

In the SMS Backup Safe settings is a default option to encrypt the
backups (I guess that's what the "safe" indicates?) which I turned off.

Like the other apps, SMS Backup Safe was super simple to use, although
it seems to not have an option to separate the backup tasks, as it did
everything in a single button press (which I guess is OK for now).

Unlike the other backup apps, SMS Backup Safe saved to XML file types.
Call_Backup_datetime.xml
SMS_Backup_datetime.xml
SMS_Backup_datetime.xml

Unlike the other backup apps though, it wasn't immediately obvious
where SMS Backup Safe stored those XML archive files though.

Hooking the phone up to the PC allowed me to find them easily though
\storage\emulated\0\Android\data\com.develrox.smsbackup\files\
Where in "files" was ".\calls\Call_Backup_datetime.xml" and
in "files" was also ".\messages\SMS_Backup_datetime.xml"

Note that contacts aren't backed up, unlike the other tested apps.

[Andy Burnelli]

> *SMS Backup & SMS Export to Excel*, by Murray (gsf free, free, ad free)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magic.smsrecovery>

*DO NOT INSTALL THIS APP WITHOUT READING THE AD HOC LOG BELOW!*
(If you do install this app, turn off your Internet when you do so.)

Moving forward to test the SMS Backup & SMS Export to Excel app,
for whatever reason, this app asks for a special permission to
"install unknown apps from source", which I granted (Android 11),
but I wasn't at all sure why it asked or even what it was asking for.

It updated the app from wherever it thought that source was from,
so if you don't trust this app to do the right things, forget it.

Then it crashed, but when restarted, it seemed to work the 2nd time
but it immediately asked for a donation, which you can easily skip.

Reading the reviews, that's the first stuff people complained about.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magic.smsrecovery>

There was only the option to back up SMS messages, where I hit
the "Select All" button and then the "Export" button where it said
it saved to yet another file format, in this case, "csv" file format.

It gave the location of that supposedly saved csv file as
/sdcard/datetime.csv

But it wasn't obvious _where_ that file resided on the phone,
so I hooked the phone up to the PC to click about in the filesystem.

I never did find the file, where in the reviews on Google Play
someone mentioned you have to donate to export, so this is a bust.

Worse, I can't even find where the program installed itself as it's
not in the Android data folder as far as I can tell.

Using the best App Manager app on the planet to find where it is
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager>
The data directory is reported to be
/data/user/0/com.magic.smsrecovery

But I still couldn't find the data, so this app is/was a bust.
I couldn't even find where the app was installed even when I sorted
by reverse date (where the other recently installed apps showed up).

I suspect this com.magic.smsrecovery app can be a scam as the commentsw
indicated, but then why does Google Play allow it to be downloaded?

[Andy Burnelli]

Given that I'm being purposefully helpful, I'll move on to the apps
to the apps that contain ads which were found in the original Google search,
where many people seem to enjoy the ads that I deplore.

Knowing that, we next can test *Super Backup & Restore*

by MobileIdea Studio (Contains ads & In-app purchases)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts>

I had to turn off the "ad free" and "gsf free" filter in the
Aurora Store scraper of the Google Play repository to find it
(as my default search doesn't look at apps with ads or with gsf).

The first thing Super Backup & Restore asked for on Android 11
was a folder name to put the backups in, which I picked on the external
sd card as "x" where it then created a "SmsContactsBackup" subfolder.
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup

Then there was a button each to back up the following types of data
apps
sms
contacts
call logs
calendars
pictures

Super Backup & Restore had options to schedule backups individually for
sms
contacts
call logs
calendars

Super Backup & Restore had other options such as
"Upload to Google Drive" and
"Delete after upload"

A nice feature is the checkbox to back up all apps upon
installation (although the Aurora Store already does that).

The ads were intrusive and obnoxious, but for SMS,
the Super Backup & Restore app had an "All" and "Conversations"
backup which created an XML file of the naming convention
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/sms/sms_datetime.xml

For "Calls" it had only the "Backup all" option which created
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/logs/calllogs_datetime.xml

For "Contacts" the options were "Backup all" or "Backup contacts
with phone numbers", creating the archive format for "all" of
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/contacts/contacts_datetime.xml
And creating the archive format for contacts with phone numbers of
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/contacts/contacts_datetime.vcf

For "Calendars", the options were just "Backup all" which created
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/calendars/cal_datetime.xml

For "Apps", it only seemed to find my 348 apps and not my 846 packages,
where it created a calendar xml file even though I don't use calendars
/storage/0000-0001/x/SmsContactsBackup/calendars/cal_datetime.xml

For the "Pictures" option it will ask to encrypt the pictures
when it backs them up but then it goes to Google Play (which I
don't even have running on my phone) so others can test that option.

This would be a nice app if it wasn't for the obnoxious ads.
In reality, I guess if you use it only once on the old phone
(to back things up) and then once on the new phone (to restore),
then the obnoxious full screen loud video ads might be tolerable.

[Andy Burnelli]

Lastly, to continue to be helpful for others to catch up on
privacy aware backups, this is the last recommended app I'm testing today

*SMS Backup & Restore* by SyncTech Pty Ltd (Contains ads)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore>

Again I needed to turn off my default Aurora Store filters which
normally ignore apps that are gsf dependent and that have ads.

In the SMS Backup & Restore settings are options for where you
want the backup to reside (on the net or on the phone).

I let it create a folder on the sdcard named "x" where I was surprised
to see the option to automatically email the backup to yourself
(which I left unchecked).

It was nice that you can schedule daily, weekly or monthly backups.
And it was nice that you can set a password for launching the app.
SMS Backup & Restore even had settings to adjust time zones for archives.

At the touch of the "backup now" button, SMS Backup & Restore backed up
all my call logs & messages to
/storage/0000-0001/X/calls-datetime.xml
/storage/0000-0001/X/sms-datetime.xml

At this point we already have a bunch of backups in various formats
so I think I'll wipe my phone now hoping that at least one set of
these backups will do what I need for a privacy aware backup strategy.

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:58:09 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> b. I've backed up the APKs and the Nova Launcher Homescreen organization.

Regarding the all important backup of all currently installed apps...

Interestingly, even though the Aurora Store Google Play repo scraper
has a button to automatically NOT delete all downloaded APKs, not every app
I own came from Google Play, so I needed to _extract_ the APK ad hoc.

For myself, and to help others, I tested a few free APK extractor apps,
each of which extracted varying numbers of APKs, and each of which named the
extracted APKs with slightly different names (sometimes different sizes).

*Super Backup & Restore* extracted 347 apps
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts>
With typical names & APK sizes of:
Cellular-Z_5.8.1.apk 14,765KB
Fake GPS_2.0.8.apk 1,577KB
Shortcut Maker_3.8.apks 2,900KB (note the minor size difference)

*My_APKs* extracted 732 apps
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.frankygoes.myapks>
With typical names & APK sizes of:
Cellular-Z-5.8.1_make.more.r2d2.cellular_z-65.apk 14,765KB
Fake GPS-2.0.8_com.lexa.fakegps-2081.apk 1,577KB
Shortcut Maker-3.8_rk.android.app.shortcutmaker-86.apk 2,784KB

An older version of "App Backup & Restore" version 4.1.9 extracted 846 apps
<mobi.infolife.appbackup>
Cellular-Z-make.more.r2d2.cellular_z-65-v5.8.1.apk 14,765KB
Fake GPS-com.lexa.fakegps-2081-v2.0.8.apk 1,577KB
Shortcut Maker-rk.android.app.shortcutmaker-86-v3.8.apk 2,784KB

[Andy Burns]

Andy Burnelli wrote:

> this is the last recommended app I'm testing today
> *SMS Backup & Restore* by SyncTech Pty Ltd (Contains ads)
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore>

Have used this one for years since before SyncTech bought it from the original
author, I get no ads (I may have paid for a "pro" version) it works in the
background, I have it save to a cloud account as well as locally on the phone,
but you don't have to use cloud if you don't want the convenience :-O

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 07:47:54 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

>> this is the last recommended app I'm testing today
>> *SMS Backup & Restore* by SyncTech Pty Ltd (Contains ads)
>> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore>
>
> Have used this one for years since before SyncTech bought it from the original
> author, I get no ads (I may have paid for a "pro" version) it works in the
> background,

Thanks Andy for your confirmation on the utility of the SyncTech app named
*SMS Backup & Restore* where I didn't see any ads (yet) myself but it says
they have them on their Google Play web page so they must be there somewhere
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore>

Apparently SyncTech bought the app from Carbonite and they are maintaining
it as a privacy-based backup utility where they say this about the ads:
"We plan to keep the app free, with inclusion of non-intrusive banner ads
(with an opt-out option), to ensure we continue to maintain and develop
this app with high quality. A no-ads paid version of the app is also
available in the Play Store." <https://synctech.com.au/>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestorePro>

While I shun gsf-dependent apps that aren't free and ad free, I liked this
app and I too would recommended it (based only on my single use so far),
where the true test will be what it restores given I don't have contacts on
my phone (so my SMS/MMS app has to independently name each conversation with
the contact).

Given the original article in the review I posted earlier says there are no
ads, and given neither you nor I see any ads, I checked the FAQ to see if
they're just "planning" on having ads in the future but haven't implemented
it yet perhaps. <https://synctech.com.au/sms-backup-restore/sms-faqs/>

The FAQ says there are ads, so maybe we missed them or we removed them?
<https://synctech.com.au/faqs/why-am-i-seeing-ads-in-the-app-can-i-remove-them/>
"We have decided to make the app ad-supported so that we can continue to
develop and support the app and its users. The app displays a
non-intrusive banner ad at the bottom of the main screen. If you do not
wish to see the ads in the app, you can remove them by opening the
settings and then turning on the option to Remove ads. After that,
restart the app and it will not display ads any more."

> I have it save to a cloud account as well as locally on the phone,
> but you don't have to use cloud if you don't want the convenience :-O

I get the friendly gibe and I take it in good humor, where I'm one who
strongly feels that privacy is a God-given right that we should all be able
to enjoy, but, just as it is with freedom, privacy isn't effortless.

The cloud marketing people make backup to their servers effortless for a
reason, but the good news here is that there's nothing stopping anyone from
putting their local backups on the cloud if that's what they want to do. :)

In summary, the true test isn't creating those XML, VCF, ZIP, LLAC, SMS &
CSV files, but the true test is in what happens when I restore them later.
--
See also the iOS equivalent thread:
Does Apple allow privacy based local (encrypted) backup of MMS/SMS messages & caller history like Android has?*
<https://groups.google.com/g/misc.phone.mobile.iphone/c/C1xg7qovMhY>

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 04:46:02 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> At this point we already have a bunch of backups in various formats
> so I think I'll wipe my phone now hoping that at least one set of
> these backups will do what I need for a privacy aware backup strategy.

Just as I was beginning to wipe the phone, I realized I have a bunch of
rarely used second-line apps (such as Text+, Talkatone, 2ndline, TextNow,
TextMeup & GoogleVoice) that I may need to deal with (most died from lack of
use, apparently, but some numbers appear to be still alive and kicking).

Since others out there may also be using these free 2nd-line apps, I first
ask what you use to back their messages up, where, again, I'll search to see
what's out there by way of privacy based free ad free gsf free backup utils.

I also just realized there are other telecommunications apps which may have
messages which need to be backed up, and where I rarely use them but I have
on occasion used WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, Viber, Hangouts, Signal, Telegram,
Duo, Discord, etc., none of which are critical, but for others, they may be.

[Andy Burnelli]

Interestingly, the Google Recorder port APK has a backup problem.
<Recorder-1.1.284933798_com.google.android.apps.recorder-11000903.apk>

Only inside the Google Recorder app can you see your recorded files (and
their transcripts). There is no way, unless you're rooted, to directly
access the recorded files from the PC or from an Android file explorer :(
<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/22158385/where-exactly-are-the-recordings-from-the-recorder-app-saved>

Your only option is to select the recordings and transcripts inside the app.
Then _share_ them to "something" on your phone that shows up for sharing.

I've never understood the logic of what shows up after you hit the sharing
button in Android, where, for example, only _one_ of my many file managers
showed up, but one was enough (X-plore, by Michal Bacik of LonelyCatGames)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgames.Xplore>

If I didn't have that app installed, there wouldn't be any file managers in
the share list, so there's "something" magical that X-Plore does, where I
note that it doesn't show up as "X-plore" but as "X-plore copy to".

BTW, another viable option is the "NitroShare" app which can directly copy
to a PC on the LAN. I tested both options where each worked fine.

Of course, I'm sure Google would rather we have used the cloud, but the
whole point is to back up & restore your phone using only local resources.

[Andy Burnelli]

One of the most unfortunate issues which affects me greatly but which
wouldn't affect most people is I don't know how to backup shortcuts.

There are shortcuts to web pages such as to Google Maps traffic
(which are useful because they don't use the Google Maps app).
<https://www.howtogeek.com/667938/how-to-add-a-website-to-your-android-home-screen/>

And there are shortcuts to other traffic and construction related
sites which were created using an app such as Website Shortcut.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut>

More importantly there are detailed shortcuts to settings inside apps
which were created using a utility app such as "X-shortcut creator"
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oldmen.shortcutcreator>

There are also widgets (e.g., Termux widgets to Intents & Activities
& flashlight widgets & charge-indicator widgets, etc.) that need backing up.

Googling for how to back up Android Intents and Activity shortcuts I find
root might have helped (but I can't root this phone as T-Mobile owns it
and I'm returning it to them anyway under warranty for a replacement).
<https://www.guidingtech.com/14921/backup-android-home-screen-widgets-folders/>

Of course Nova Launcher backs up homescreen app shortcuts, but I'm not
trying to back them up. I'm trying to back up shortcuts to web pages
and shortcuts to Intents and Activities such as this type of shortcut.
Name = "Reset Ad ID"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.ads.settingsAdsSettingsActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Creator (Installed)

Name = "Google Location Settings"
Target = <com.google.android.location.settings.GoogleLocationSettingsActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Improve Accuracy Settings"
Target = <com.android.settings.Settings$ScanningSettingsActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Emergency Location Service"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.thunderbird.settings.ThunderbirdSettingsActivity>
Start in = Activities (Installed)

Name = "Google Location Accuracy"
Target = <com.google.android.location.settings.LocationAccuracyActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Exposure Notifications"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.nearby.exposurernotification.settings.SettingsActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Search Data"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.icing.ui.IcingManageSpaceActivity>
Start in = Activities (Installed)

Name = "Google Apps Settings"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.app.settingsGoogleSettingsIALink>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Google Play Services Storage"
Target = <com.google.android.gms/co.g.Space>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Device Visibility"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.nearby.sharing.ContactSelectActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Wifi Calling Settings"
Target = <com.android.settings.wifi.calling.WifiCallingSuggestionActivity>
Start in = Activities (Installed)

Name = "SIM Card Status"
Target = <com.android.settings.Settings$SimStatusActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Mobile Networks"
Target = <com.android.settings.network.telephony.MobileNetworkActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "FindMyDevice Settings"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.mdm.settings.AdmSettingsActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "System Update"
Target = <com.google.android.gms.update.SystemUpdateActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Sound Picker"
Target = <com.samsung.android.secsoundpicker.SecSoundPickerActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Battery Power"
Target = <com.android.settings.Settings$PowerUsageSummaryActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

Name = "Memory Usage"
Target = <com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity>
Start in = Shortcut Maker (Installed)

There are many of these shortcuts in my shortcuts folder to bring
up hidden settings & to make access to deep settings a single click.

If anyone knows how to back up & restore Settings-Activity shortcuts,
please let us all know as there isn't much on the net about it.

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 16:09:04 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> There are shortcuts to web pages such as to Google Maps traffic
> (which are useful because they don't use the Google Maps app).
> <https://www.howtogeek.com/667938/how-to-add-a-website-to-your-android-home-screen/>

As always so that others benefit from this information, one example of how
useful web HTML shortcuts are is to get instant traffic views of your area.

For example this could be a traffic shortcut in your Android map folder.
<https://www.google.com/maps/@37.6349928,-122.2497478,11z/data=!5m1!1e1>

While you can obtain the same information from the Google Maps app, there
are inherent single-tap use model efficiencies in setting web shortcuts up.

> And there are shortcuts to other traffic and construction related
> sites which were created using an app such as Website Shortcut.
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut>

Examples of useful detour, construction & accident related shortcuts are:
<https://511.org>
<http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/>
<http://sigalert.com/>
etc. (Obviously you'll tailor your shortcuts to your desired areas.)

When you place similar single-tap shortcuts into your navigation folder you
gain instant access to critical information that often isn't in Google Maps.

The question here is how to back up and restore these various kinds of
shortcuts when you migrate to a new phone, without using the Internet.

[Andy Burnelli]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2021 16:26:45 -0000 (UTC), Andy Burnelli wrote:

> As always so that others benefit from this information, one example of how
> useful web HTML shortcuts are is to get instant traffic views of your area.

As a purposefully helpful record of my experience migrating from one phone
to another without using the Internet in that process, I was pleasantly
surprised that _all_ my shortcuts instantly migrated over to the new phone.
<https://i.postimg.cc/DwcmRqBN/migration02.jpg>

Using Nova's export/import facility, every single web and activity shortcut
seems to have ported itself over to the new device, surprisingly so.
<https://i.postimg.cc/MGJSmg3X/migration01.jpg>

What's only missing is the app that each shortcut calls, which can easily be
added later (and then I can re-import the nova launcher backup file).

Notice that while the homescreen ports over, the apps have to exist to show
up, but they can also be added later and the Nova backup file re-imported.
<https://i.postimg.cc/TwKwyBf8/migration03.jpg>

The widgets didn't import though, but they too haven't been re-installed, so
they "might" port over similarly for all I currently know.

So far though the import/export backup/re-image process has been smooth.